Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

Professional services

A Stuttgart-based German EY member firm providing audit, tax, consulting, transaction, risk and related professional services.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft is a German professional-services firm associated with the EY global organization, one of the international Big Four audit networks. The company is headquartered in Stuttgart and operates as part of the German EY platform, which serves listed companies, financial institutions, public-sector bodies, family-owned businesses, private-equity investors, entrepreneurs and other organizations. Its legal form and regulatory status distinguish it from Ernst & Young Global Limited, the United Kingdom-based coordinating entity for the EY network, and from the numerous other legally independent EY member firms around the world. The firm's principal business is statutory and financial-statement auditing. In Germany, this work is performed within a highly regulated professional framework overseen by bodies including the Wirtschaftsprüferkammer. Audit and assurance activities cover group and annual financial statements, public-interest entities, internal controls, accounting issues, reporting processes, sustainability-related assurance and other services connected with confidence in corporate information. The German EY organization also offers tax compliance and advisory work, transaction tax, international tax planning, financial accounting advisory, transfer pricing and legal-adjacent business support through separate affiliated entities where required by German professional rules. Beyond audit and tax, the EY Germany platform provides consulting and transformation services. These include business and operating-model transformation, technology implementation, cloud and digital programs, data and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, risk management, regulatory compliance, finance transformation, supply-chain work, workforce advisory and sustainability or climate-related services. Strategy and transaction work is marketed through EY-Parthenon and related German entities, covering corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, valuation, restructuring, turnaround, capital allocation and transaction execution. The German business is the product of a long local history rather than a single newly created enterprise. Its roots include German audit and fiduciary firms established in the early twentieth century, notably Schitag and Datag, which later became associated with the international Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young organizations. The German operations were combined under the Schitag Ernst & Young name in the 1990s and adopted the common Ernst & Young identity by the end of that decade. The 2002 integration of the German Arthur Andersen practice significantly expanded the organization and strengthened its position among Germany's major audit and advisory firms. In 2013, the global network adopted the shorter EY brand, and the German organization followed that brand transition. The company has faced heightened scrutiny because of EY's audit role at Wirecard, whose 2020 collapse exposed serious failures in financial reporting and corporate oversight. In response, EY Germany introduced and later operationalized a multi-year quality initiative known as Trust in Quality, expanded risk and fraud-detection procedures, and reassessed higher-risk engagements. German regulators also imposed restrictions affecting EY's ability to accept new statutory audit mandates for certain public-interest entities for a defined period. These developments influenced the organization's quality controls, portfolio choices and public positioning. In the 2023/2024 financial year, EY reported German group revenue of approximately EUR 2.6 billion across its German activities. The German organization described its priorities as profitable and sustainable growth, cross-border collaboration, technology and artificial-intelligence investment, audit quality and selective management of risk. Because the EY network is composed of legally separate member firms, publicly reported German figures generally refer to the broader EY Germany organization rather than exclusively to the legal entity named Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft. The brand nevertheless remains one of Germany's most prominent providers of audit, tax, consulting and transaction services.

History

The German EY organization traces its roots to the development of professional auditing and fiduciary services in Germany during the early twentieth century. Two important predecessors were Schitag, the Schwäbische Treuhand-AG founded in 1919, and Datag, the Deutsche Allgemeine Treuhand AG, also established in 1919. During the following decades, German firms became connected with the international Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young organizations, reflecting the growing internationalization of audit, tax and accounting services. The Ernst & Young identity emerged internationally from the combination of Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young in 1989. In Germany, the local operations subsequently consolidated their market presence. The German firms were brought together under the Schitag Ernst & Young name in 1994, and the German member companies adopted the common Ernst & Young identity from 1999. This period established the foundations for a national platform combining audit, tax and advisory capabilities with international referral and technical resources. A major turning point came in 2002, when the German Arthur Andersen practice joined Ernst & Young after Arthur Andersen's global collapse in the aftermath of the Enron scandal. Arthur Andersen had entered Germany in 1960 and had developed a substantial local practice. Its integration materially enlarged Ernst & Young's German operations and helped the organization become one of the country's leading audit and advisory groups. The resulting business competed with PwC, KPMG and Deloitte in the German market and participated in the broader global Big Four structure. The specific legal entity Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft is recorded in the Stuttgart commercial register under HRB 730277, with first registration dated June 22, 2009. The legal entity should not be confused with the wider EY Germany organization, which includes multiple legally separate companies for audit, tax, legal, consulting, strategy and transaction activities. German professional-services rules and independence requirements make this legal separation important, even though the entities share the EY brand and operate through coordinated leadership and commercial platforms. In 2013, the global organization shortened its public-facing brand from Ernst & Young to EY. The German practice adopted the EY identity while retaining the Ernst & Young name in certain legal entities and formal regulatory disclosures. The rebranding emphasized a broader positioning beyond conventional accounting, presenting the organization as a provider of assurance, tax, consulting, strategy, transactions, risk, technology and transformation services. The German practice reached its centenary milestone in 2019 when measured from the founding of its principal local predecessor firms. At the same time, the business continued to expand in technology consulting, cybersecurity, data, artificial intelligence, sustainability, finance transformation and transaction services. EY-Parthenon strengthened the strategy offering, while programs such as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year and Entrepreneurial Winning Women extended the brand into entrepreneurship, growth and social-impact ecosystems. The Wirecard affair became the most consequential challenge in the modern history of EY Germany. EY had audited Wirecard for several years before the payments company collapsed in June 2020 after revealing that approximately EUR 1.9 billion supposedly held in trustee accounts could not be verified. The controversy generated regulatory, legal and political scrutiny concerning audit procedures, fraud-risk assessment, auditor skepticism and the relationship between audit firms and major clients. The German audit regulator imposed restrictions affecting EY's ability to accept new public-interest audit mandates for a defined period. EY Germany responded with the Trust in Quality program and related quality-management reforms. Its stated measures included more systematic use of external information, improved analysis of short-seller and whistleblower reports, stronger training on fraud indicators, expanded internal review procedures and closer attention to high-risk engagements. By the 2023 transparency reporting period, EY said that the initiative's principal measures had been completed and integrated into operational quality processes. Henrik Ahlers became head of EY Germany in April 2021. During his leadership, the German organization emphasized audit quality, risk selection, technology and artificial-intelligence investment, and profitable growth. The 2023/2024 financial year produced reported German group revenue of about EUR 2.6 billion, although this figure represented the wider EY Germany organization rather than only the legal entity covered by this dossier. In September 2026, EY announced that Jan Brorhilker would succeed Ahlers as chairman of the German management board from January 1, 2027. The succession reflected the organization's continuing effort to combine audit-quality priorities with growth in technology, transformation and advisory work.

2026
Jan Brorhilker designated German chair
[6]EY announces German leadership successioney.com
EY announced that Jan Brorhilker would become chairman of the German management board on January 1, 2027.
2024
German group reports EUR 2.6 billion revenue
[4]EY Germany reports fiscal-year 2023/2024 resultsey.com
For the financial year ending June 30, 2024, EY reported German group revenue of approximately EUR 2.6 billion.
2023
Trust in Quality measures integrated into operations
[5]EY Germany transparency report 2023assets.ey.com
EY's German transparency reporting stated that the principal measures of its post-Wirecard Trust in Quality initiative had been completed and transferred into operating processes.
2021
Henrik Ahlers takes over EY Germany leadership
[12]Henrik Ahlers takes over EY Germany leadershipey.com
Henrik Ahlers became chairman of the management board and country managing partner for EY Germany in April.
2020
Wirecard collapse intensifies audit scrutiny
[5]EY Germany transparency report 2023assets.ey.com
Wirecard's insolvency and disclosure of missing funds triggered major scrutiny of EY's audit work and German audit oversight.
2019
German centenary milestone
[10]Ernst & Young German history referencede.wikipedia.org
The German organization marked 100 years when measured from the establishment of its principal predecessor firms in 1919.
2013
Global rebrand to EY
[10]Ernst & Young German history referencede.wikipedia.org
The global organization changed its public-facing brand from Ernst & Young to EY, a transition also adopted by the German practice.
2009
Legal entity registered in Stuttgart
[7]Commercial-register information for Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaftonline-handelsregister.de
Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft was first registered in the Stuttgart commercial register under HRB 730277.
2002
Arthur Andersen Germany joins Ernst & Young
[10]Ernst & Young German history referencede.wikipedia.org
The German Arthur Andersen practice merged into Ernst & Young following Arthur Andersen's collapse after the Enron scandal.
1999
Common Ernst & Young identity adopted in Germany
[10]Ernst & Young German history referencede.wikipedia.org
The German member companies began operating under the common Ernst & Young identity.
1994
German operations combine under Schitag Ernst & Young
[10]Ernst & Young German history referencede.wikipedia.org
The principal German predecessor organizations were combined under the Schitag Ernst & Young name.
1989
International Ernst & Young combination
[11]International Ernst & Young combinationen.wikipedia.org
Ernst & Whinney and Arthur Young combined internationally, creating the Ernst & Young network that later coordinated the German member firms.
1919
Founding of major German predecessor firms
[10]Ernst & Young German history referencede.wikipedia.org
Schitag and Datag, two important predecessors of the German EY organization, were established in Germany.

Products and positioning

A regulated German member firm of the EY professional-services network, positioned around trust in capital markets, audit quality, multidisciplinary business advice, technology-enabled transformation and international execution.

Professional services
Audit and Assurance
The core regulated offering includes statutory audits, financial-statement audits, group reporting support, assurance over controls and processes, accounting advisory, reporting assistance and related services. The practice serves large corporates, public-interest entities, financial institutions, family-owned companies and other organizations requiring independent assurance or support with complex accounting and reporting matters.
Professional services
Tax
EY's German tax platform provides corporate tax compliance, tax accounting, international tax, transaction tax, transfer pricing, employment tax, indirect tax, tax technology and tax controversy support. Services are delivered through legally distinct German entities where professional regulation, independence or licensing requirements make that structure necessary.
Consulting
Consulting and Technology Transformation
Consulting activities cover business transformation, operating models, finance, supply chain, customer experience, technology delivery, cloud migration, data platforms, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture and managed services. The offering positions EY as a transformation partner rather than only an accounting firm.
Strategy consulting
EY-Parthenon
EY-Parthenon provides corporate and business-unit strategy, portfolio and growth planning, commercial due diligence, value creation, operating-model design and support for investors and management teams. Its work is connected with EY's wider transactions and corporate-finance capabilities.
Transaction advisory
Strategy and Transactions
The transactions platform supports acquisitions, disposals, mergers, carve-outs, due diligence, valuation, transaction structuring, capital raising, restructuring, turnaround and post-deal integration. It serves corporates, private-equity investors, lenders and other financial sponsors.
Risk advisory
Risk, Cybersecurity and Forensics
Risk services address internal controls, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk, cyber defense, digital risk, fraud response, investigations, forensic accounting, integrity and governance. The practice has gained importance as clients face cyber incidents, complex regulation, supply-chain risk and rising expectations around fraud prevention.
Sustainability advisory
Sustainability and Climate Services
EY advises organizations on sustainability strategy, climate risk, decarbonization, environmental and social reporting, sustainable finance, regulatory readiness and assurance over non-financial information. The offering is linked to the expansion of mandatory sustainability reporting and investor demand for more reliable ESG data.

Controversies

2020
Wirecard audit controversy
EY audited Wirecard for several years before the German payments company collapsed in June 2020 after disclosing that approximately EUR 1.9 billion supposedly held in trustee accounts could not be verified. The case prompted intense criticism of audit procedures, fraud-risk assessment, auditor skepticism and German financial oversight. It led to legal, political and regulatory scrutiny of EY's work and contributed to restrictions on accepting certain new public-interest audit mandates in Germany.
Source

2024Shape the Future with Confidence
Germany · Global
EY's current brand platform emphasizes confidence, transformation, business resilience, sustainability and the goal of helping organizations operate more effectively in a changing environment.
Outcome. The platform became the principal public-facing positioning for EY Germany's services, events, publications and entrepreneurship programs.
Source
2020Trust in Quality
Germany
Trust in Quality was a German audit-quality initiative introduced after the Wirecard case. It focused on fraud-risk awareness, external-data analysis, whistleblower information, short-seller reports, internal review and the use of inspection findings.
Outcome. EY's 2023 transparency reporting stated that the initiative's measures had been completed and integrated into regular operating processes.
Source
2008Entrepreneurial Winning Women
Germany · Europe · Global
The program supports high-growth women entrepreneurs through mentoring, advisory resources, visibility, investor access and an international peer network.
Outcome. EY describes the program as operating across 55 countries and as part of its broader inclusion and women-entrepreneurship platform.
Source
1996EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Germany
Germany
EY's German Entrepreneur Of The Year program recognizes entrepreneurs and owner-managed companies for growth, innovation, leadership and social or economic contribution. It connects a national awards platform with the wider EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year network.
Outcome. The program became a recurring national awards and networking platform and reached its thirtieth German edition in 2026.
Source

Brand decisions

2026
German leadership successionOther
Background
Henrik Ahlers had led EY Germany since April 2021, while Jan Brorhilker had headed the German Assurance business during a period focused on audit quality and regulatory recovery.
Action taken
EY's supervisory board appointed Jan Brorhilker to become chairman of the German management board from January 1, 2027.
Aftermath
The transition is intended to maintain continuity in quality management while supporting the German organization's future growth and cross-border cooperation.
Source
2024
Technology and artificial-intelligence investment focusStrategy
Background
Clients increasingly demanded digital transformation, data, cloud, cybersecurity and artificial-intelligence capabilities, while traditional consulting and transaction activity faced a cautious economic environment.
Action taken
EY Germany identified substantial technology and artificial-intelligence investment as a central part of its growth and competitiveness agenda.
Aftermath
The organization continued to market technology-enabled transformation, cyber resilience and data-driven services alongside its audit, tax and strategy practices.
Source
2023
Selective withdrawal from risky or unprofitable workStrategy
Background
EY Germany described a difficult environment for consulting, transactions and major transformation projects, alongside the need to manage audit, legal and regulatory risk.
Action taken
The German organization stated that it had separated from certain unprofitable and risk-bearing activities and adjusted its portfolio while continuing to invest in technology and artificial intelligence.
Aftermath
EY reported that the measures reduced some revenue volume in the short term but were intended to support more profitable and sustainable growth.
EY Germany group revenue. EUR 2.57 billion in fiscal year 2022/2023 → EUR 2.6 billion in fiscal year 2023/2024 (Financial years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024)
Source
2020
Launch of the Trust in Quality audit-quality programStrategy
Background
The Wirecard collapse created significant scrutiny of EY's German audit work and raised concerns about the detection of fraud, the treatment of external warning signs and the quality of audit risk assessment.
Action taken
EY Germany established a multi-year quality initiative involving enhanced external-data analysis, stronger training, expanded review procedures and systematic consideration of whistleblower and short-seller information.
Aftermath
EY later reported that the initiative's main measures had been completed and transferred into operational quality-management processes.
Source

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